Fishing Guide, Educator and Ambassador Steve Everetts, Inducted into the Walleyes Unlimited Hall of Fame
In a sport with its share of egos, at least at its highest and most visible levels, it’s always refreshing to see someone like Steve Everetts of Janesville, Wisconsin recognized for his quiet, deliberate and selfless work on behalf of anglers. Everetts, 53, was honored by Walleyes Unlimited USA on Saturday, March 4, through the Walleyes Unlimited Hall of Fame induction.
Everetts, a part-time fishing guide and St. Croix Rod ambassador for nearly 20 years, says he found a love of fishing about 50 years ago, and that flame has only grown brighter every day since.
“From my earliest memories, all I ever wanted to do was fish, and the passion never waned,” says Everetts. “I grew up watching the Lindners, Babe Winkelman and Spence Petros on TV. Hank Parker came next. These guys were the closest thing he got to fishing mentors, even though he’d never met them. Later when I started my guiding service I met people like Green Bay guide Dale Stroschein who taught me a lot about the business side of fishing and what it really means to be a professional. That education continued when I joined the NPAA and was helpful in developing lasting, meaningful relationships with people and companies within the industry like St. Croix Rod.”
After earning his US Coast Guard license and guiding for a few years, Everetts began helping other anglers increase their knowledge by giving seminars at sporting shows and other events. “I was invited to speak at a Walleyes Unlimited USA club meeting about 13 years ago and was truly impressed, not only by the work that the non-profit organization did in the areas of angler recruitment and education, but also in conservation. but also by the character and knowledge of the people within the organization,” recalls Everetts. “I became a member and quickly got involved. I served on the board of directors for 11 years, was appointed a trustee, and also served as president. Looking back, I have met many wonderful people and expert anglers through the club who have become great friends. Because of these relationships, I have probably tripled my own fishing knowledge and skills.”
Founded in 1969, Walleyes Unlimited USA is recognized as one of the best multi-species fishing clubs in the country. Its regular meetings, special events, and programs focus on increasing the fishing skills of its more than 300 members, promoting angler recruitment and retention, and supporting conservation. The club’s five decades of work on behalf of fish and anglers are so significant that the organization itself has been inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
Everetts was inducted into the Walleyes Unlimited USA Hall of Fame at the conclusion of the organization’s annual awards banquet in Delavan, Wisconsin on Saturday, March 4. Predictably and appropriately, the honor came at a time when Everetts was hard at work on behalf of others. “I was totally consumed by the performances he had done that night and made sure all the other awards went smoothly,” says Everetts. “So when Bob (Walleyes Unlimited USA President Bob Clark) came back to the podium and made the announcement that there was a final award, he was confused and didn’t know what was going on. Even after the announcement was made, he didn’t immediately catch on.”
In fact, the honor took a bit of time for Everetts to process. “It was a huge surprise and an incredible honor to be recognized for all the work I have put into the club,” Everetts says simply.
“Steve has been on the staff at St. Croix for a long time…longer than I have been with the company myself,” says St. Croix vice president of marketing Jesse Simpkins. “His important knowledge and angling skills aside, Steve’s work ethic and humility are truly special and a perfect fit for our brand. The entire St. Croix family expresses our gratitude to Steve for his decades of work to help other anglers enjoy more success, as well as our congratulations on this well-deserved honor.”
About Holy Cross Rod
Based in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has proudly produced the “World’s Best Rods” for 75 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with skilled labor, St. Croix is the only major producer that still builds rods completely from design to fabrication. The company remains family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing facilities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With popular trademarked series like Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph® and Mojo, St. Croix is revered by all types of anglers around the world.